A/N:

I've had this chapter written (not in its entirety) for a long time. I did a lot of research to make sure everything about this moment a lot of you have been waiting for is as realistic and faithful to the traditions as possible. I am very proud of this chapter and hope all of you can see the scenes playing out as easily as I can in my imagination. Enjoy everyone!

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I took a deep breath and felt a hand pat my shoulder gently. Emmett, whose face was usually twisted in a large maniacal grin was smiling gently now.

"You'll be fine kid." He whispered "and just for the record, the skirt, doesn't look half bad."

I groaned, but chuckled too.

For Emmett regarding my kilt, that comment was a compliment, one which I accepted, he was just thankful I didn't make my groomsmen were kilts too, but I was nice and let them go with regular tuxes.

"Were you this nervous you're first wedding?" I asked my brother, he glanced over at Jasper and Edward who were listening

"Terrified, we all were Chris, even to this day when Rose and I renew our vows in another ceremony I feel the same way I did the first time, trust me it's a good thing."

"Chris let me ask you, do you love Fi?" Jasper asked in a serious tone.

"Of course!" I exclaimed

"Then this is just for show, this is to show everyone that you love her. You do not need to be nervous because this is not for you or for Fi its for friends and family, by asking for Fi's hand you two are already married, you are one now, belonging to one another. Alice and I did not need to exchange wedding vows or rings to express our love for one another, nor did Emmett and Rosalie, or Carlisle and Esme-"

"And I certainly did not need a ceremony to prove that Bella and I belonged together." Edward added

"Its for tradition more than anything else Chris." Emmett finished

"Exactly, I do not need a ceremony to know that I love Tia, I know you don't need this to prove to yourself your love for Fi." Ben added

"Yeah Chris, I may have never gotten married before, but they're right." Seth spoke up punching me lightly in the shoulder "you're not alone with this, you've got your best friends and brothers here backing you up."

That was certainly true, as well as my brothers and Seth, my werewolf best friend, there was also Benjamin, my newest pal.

The wedding party at least in my opinion was pretty big because of how many people were involved. Four groomsmen on my side, plus my best man meant four bridesmaids and one maid of honor on Fi's side.

The guests were filing into the canopy that we had rigged up. In accordance to Celtic tradition, the wedding ceremony would be outside, and the trees turning in the fall weather were bent carefully to create the canopy.

I was surprised to see Bella's dad come down the aisle, with Seth's mom Sue on his arm. He gave me a quick wave before he and Sue took their seats. I glanced over at Seth who grinned and shrugged.

As the last guest took their seat I took one last deep breath before heading down the aisle to the entrance of the canopy Seth following me.

Carlisle hugged my shoulders as he passed, it would be my responsibility to escort my mother to her seat, Seth as my best man, would escort Siobhan, technically Fi's mother right behind Esme and I.

Glancing towards the house I could hear giggling of my sisters and wondered if Fi was as nervous as I was. Esme reached forward and hugged me tight, before checking me over, making sure everything was in its place.

I had never felt so connected to my heritage then I did in that moment. The short sword was sheathed on my hip and tapped against my bare legs as I walked, where Carlisle found an exact replica of my father's wedding sword I hadn't asked.

Esme straightened my bangs one last time as I held out my arm for her. I could feel Seth's nerves as he did the same with Siobhan. She smiled gently at him trying to ease his nerves, I'm not sure what he was more nervous about, escorting Fi's "mum" and tripping or escorting a vampire.

Whatever he was nervous about, faded as we stepped into the canopy in line, Seth right behind me. At the end of the aisle, right before the altar I took Esme to the right, Seth went left as we helped the two mums to their seats, before rejoining my brothers at the altar.

I couldn't have asked for more people, a good portion of the wolf-pack was here including Sam, his wife Emily, Brady and Collin and Jacob's friends even Seth's sister Leah had come, on the Cullen side as well as the Denali clan, and many of our other friends, even Jasper's friends Peter and Charlotte had come. There were a few humans, Chief Swan, Sue Clearwater, and Mr. Black. Jacob sat next to his father, but at an angle where Nessie could see him, the Irish Coven side was equally packed with other friends and family.

The crowd went hush as music began playing. Fi had done a lot of research on music, playing thousands of songs to find the perfect one. She didn't want a traditional wedding march and instead went hunting. What she found was perfect for her and for the theme of the wedding. It was an old song sung by new talent. Its called Walking in the Air and is a very haunting, but admittedly cool song redone by this Celtic group called Celtic Woman, yeah original name I know, but they've got pretty good voices and the song was a good match.

Everyone turned around in their chairs to get a good view. First Tia came in, followed by Bella, Rosalie, Alice, and finally Maggie all walking step by step smiling as they did so. All of them looked beautiful, and it made me curious as to Fi's dress.

Then Nessie came, she was acting as both flower girl and ring bearer and seemed very pleased with her role, the rings were attached securely to the basket. We decided to have her drop fall colored leaves instead of flower petals, it fit the theme better and it fit Fi and I better. She carefully placed each leaf on the silk path way taking her time as everyone chuckled. When she reached the end of the aisle she ran up to me and hugged me around the waist.

"did I do good Uncle Chris?" she asked

"Perfect Nessie girl, we couldn't have picked anyone better for the job." I replied, I resisted the urge to ruffle her hair, mainly because I knew if I did I might not live to see my reception, courtesy of my sisters.

She giggled, Bella reached out and Nessie skipped over to her mum hugging her tight and giggling some more.

I took another deep breath as everyone stood up to face the back. I closed my eyes for a second as everyone began gasping, I opened one eye then the other as Fi walked in, escorted by Liam.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Fi

x-x-x-x-x-x-x

I didn't think it was possible, but my stomach was twisting in a knot as each of my bridesmaids walked under the canopy towards the altar and as Nessie went through, the knot tightened.

Liam looked over at me and tapped my nose

"Fiona me girl, you're not nervous are you?"

"A little bit Liam." I answered honestly

"You'll be fine my wee lass, Chris is a fine lad, for a Scot that is,"

"Liam," I chided giggling

"Ach dontcha take it personal me girl, I be' he's jus' as nervous as you are." He kissed my cheek gently "ye ready?"

I took a deep breath and counted to three.

"Aye, I am."

Liam pulled my arm into the crook of his and we started down the aisle. With everyone standing up I couldn't see Chris, I tightened my grip on Liam's arm and he smiled at me again.

My friends and family and Chris's friends and family lined the aisle, a photographer was snapping as we walked, but I wasn't paying attention to him, nor to everyone watching, I kept my eyes ahead of me, waiting for the sea of guests to part to see Chris.

I took a deep breath as we got closer, Chris's parents gave me a comforting smile, then I saw Siobhan, then… there was Chris. Liam was right, he looked just as scared as I did, but like me, I saw him relax a bit, he gave me a half smile that I have fallen in love with, his blue eyes sparkling.

He looked handsome in the kilt, he really did like his father, he even had a small short sword hanging off his hip. He looked like a mini highlander warrior, and I'm sure his brothers had already pointed that out.

We reached the altar and the awed look on Chris's face was priceless, and I swear if my body still could I would be blushing at the way Chris was staring at me.

Liam lifted the veil for a moment to kiss my cheek.

"Love you Fiona." He said,

"(And who gives this woman to this man?)" the priest asked in Irish, Liam took a deep breath and smiled at Chris

"Her mother and I," he replied, taking my hands and holding them out to Chris, who took hold of them gently, but nervously, he was practically shaking. Liam gave him a pat on the shoulder before heading to his seat next to Siobhan.

"bheatha! (Welcome!)We are here today to witness the joining of these two young people, Christian Cullen and Fiona Nickelson." The priest began, Chris and I had purposely met with a Celtic priest who was always pleased to incorporate the old ways into Christianity and he was very happy to oblige with our needs, it also helped that he was an old friend of Liam's and a vampire who had taken a leaf out of the Cullen family's book and survived on animal blood. "True love is a strange thing, Aine makes it so." I heard chuckles from some of our guests, and glanced behind me as most exchanged confused looks. "In Irish Celtic as with Scottish and Welsh, there are many gods and goddess that make up the religion. In Irish, Aine is the Goddess of Love, but very often she confuses her identity, choosing instead to be Aerten, the Welsh Goddess of Fate. Fate plays a large part in all our lives. We are fated from the beginning for certain events and tasks throughout our lives, we are never given more than we can handle because it was fated before our birth to be as such. Christian and Fiona were fated to be together as husband and wife, but Aerten would only allow the union when she had decided it was time, Christian I know you questioned for many years to yourself of course why fate had left you alone for so long. The answer to that question is simple Fiona had her own journey to follow as you did and it wasn't until your paths were fated to cross did all work the way it was supposed to."

He paused and gestured for Esme and Carlisle and Siobhan and Liam to step forward. Each couple joined hands and came to us at the alter.

"Christian and Fiona have come to this spot of their own free will, with the blessing of their parents. However they are not just the children of Carlisle and Esme nor Siobhan and Liam. Both Christian and Fiona were children of parents who are no longer on this earth, parents who would be proud of the moment their children are sharing and of the journey they will embark upon. With that said, in honor of these parents two candles will be lit, so that Christian's parents and Fiona's parents will be here with us for this day."

Carlisle stepped forward first with Esme's hand on his. He took a long match and struck it, before lighting one of the beautiful white candles.

"For Thomas and Rebecca Callaghan," Esme said for everyone to hear

I felt Chris tighten his grip on my hands as his mother said his birth parents' name aloud, I could see the look of sadness in his eyes and he smiled gently at me.

Liam and Siobhan stepped forward next, as Liam followed through with the same motions as Carlisle, lighting the other candle.

"For Andrew and Rosemary Nickelson." Siobhan added.

Both sets of parents returned to their seats, but not before giving both Chris and I quick shoulder squeezes. I hadn't heard my parent's names in so long, it felt grand hearing them again, a wee bit sad, but I could practically feel both of them with us today. I know Chris felt the same way, he stared at the candle as if he could see his parents standing there, before he looked back at me and mouthed

'Tha gaol agam ort'. To which I smiled back and mouthed the same to him.

"Now, I had the pleasure of sitting down and discussing with Christian and Fiona how they wanted this ceremony. They were very specific about traditions that were an absolute must. For those of you among their guests who are unaware, Christian is Scottish while Fiona is Irish, now you must be asking yourselves, 'why should that matter, a wedding is a wedding?' and I answer you, it has everything to do with it. Both Christian and Fiona while from two very different islands, two similar yet different cultures and backgrounds, and even different languages, find their cultures sharing one simply fact. They are both of Celtic decent and therefore asked that traditions of their Celtic ancestors be brought into the ceremony. One such tradition is very important to both cultures and that is the handfasting." The priest held up a blue, white, red, green, and orange cord, Chris and I had picked the colors out ourselves, it held our nations' colors all blended together and it also held our personal favorite colors, blue for me and green for Chris. "I will now say the blessing:

In times past it was believed that the human soul shared characteristics with all things divine. It is this belief which assigned virtues to the cardinal directions; East, South, West and North. It is in this tradition that a blessing is offered in support of this ceremony.

Blessed be this union with the gifts of the East.
Communication of the heart, mind, and body
Fresh beginnings with the rising of each Sun.
The knowledge of the growth found in the sharing of silences.

Blessed be this union with the gifts of the South.
Warmth of hearth and home
The heat of the heart's passion
The light created by both to illuminate the darkest of times.

Blessed be this union with the gifts of the West.
The deep commitments of the lake The swift excitement of the river The refreshing cleansing of the rain
The all encompassing passion of the sea. Blessed be this union with the gifts of the North
Firm foundation on which to build
A stable home to which you may always return.

Now you are bound one to the other
With a tie not easy to break.
Take the time of binding
Before the final vows are made
To learn what you need to know -
To grow in wisdom and love.
That your marriage will be strong
That your love will last
In this life and beyond.

Once he finished the blessing, the priest wrapped the cord around Chris and I's hands, he did not tie it, but let it sit binding us together both in the physical and mental sense.

There was some clapping among our guests who understood the blessing and this quickly caught on as the remainder of the guests joined in.

"Now, if you would say your vows please? Christian you first lad,"

Chris took a nervous, deep breath as he looked deep into my eyes, his voice started off soft, but grew louder as he felt more comfortable speaking.

"Fiona, I knew from the moment I saw you, that you were the one. I could feel it, it was all around me, and in that instant I saw no one but you, I felt for no one but you, you took hold of my soul and brought it back to me, if only for me to give it directly to you and I do, I gladly give my heart, my soul, my very being to you. For eternity and beyond, I have waited a lifetime for you and will spend many more with you. Tha gaol agam ort a gra, a anam cara, Tugaim mo chroí duit go deo. I love you, my love, my soul mate, I give my heart to you forever."

I gave his hand a gentle squeeze, before a nod from the priest encouraged me to recite my own vow, like Chris I was nervous about speaking in front of everyone like this, but when I glanced behind me slightly, I saw the encouraging smiles of my sisters and soon to be niece and knew I could do this.

"Christian, I never thought I would find the happiness I have with you, I never knew what was missing, my life while loving and happy, always felt incomplete somehow and it wasn't until you did I feel that completeness. You are my fairy tale, my happy ending and my happy beginning together. You are my best friend and my love, my soul mate, Tugaim mo chroí duit deo, I give my heart to you forever."

"Well said," the priest said softly to the both of us, He looked over to my bridesmaids and gestured for Nessie, Chris's niece to come to us, she was happily holding a duel role as flower girl and ring bearer. She skipped happily to us, Seth knelt down and gently untied the rings from her basket, he tapped her nose and she giggled.

The priest looked right at Chris and nodded at him

"Do you, Christian Aiden Cullen, take Fiona to be your wife, To be her constant friend,
her partner in life, and her true love? To love her without reservation; honor and respect her, protect her from harm, comfort her in times of distress, and to grow with her in mind and spirit? Until Eternity's end?"

"Aye, I do." Chris said giving my hand a gently squeeze, Seth reached over and handed him the ring and the priest the other,

"Then repeat after me, I Christian, with this ring as a symbol of my love, do thee wed."

"I Christian, with this ring as a symbol of my love do thee wed." Chris repeated, slipping the ring on my finger with my engagement ring.

"Do you Fiona Larissa Nickelson take Christian to be your husband, To be his constant friend, his partner in life, and his true love? To love him without reservation, honor and respect him, protect him from harm, comfort him in times of distress, and to grow with him in mind and spirit? Until Eternity's end?"

"I do,"

"Please repeat after me, I Fiona with this ring as a symbol of my love do thee wed."

"I Fiona with this ring as a symbol of my love, do thee wed." I slipped his ring on and Chris gave me his half grin, which was so catchy I couldn't help but return it.

The Priest nodded, and looked at Chris's groomsmen, Jasper stepped forward, and handed something to Chris. He took a deep breath

"Fiona, please accept these colours as your own and this crest as your own, my clan becomes our clan, my crest becomes our crest."

"Ay, I do." I said smiling as Chris reached forward and with Maggie's help, carefully pinned a piece of tartan to my dress in a spot that wouldn't ruin the material, holding the tartan in place was a crest, the Cullen crest that I had seen the entire family wearing. I had expected the pin to be that of Chris's clan, but I was pleasantly surprised at what he had done. The tartan was the clan colours of the Callaghan Clan, Chris's family, but the pin holding it there was the crest of his other family.

"Now, Esme, Siobhan I believe you have something?"

Both mothers stood up, Emmett reached around the altar and lifted up a medium size candle about a foot in length and thick in circumference. He gently handed it to Esme who winked at both Chris and I. Together the two mothers placed the candle in a holder sitting in between the two candles for Chris's parents and my own. Two more candles were placed on either side of the larger candle. Chris looked at me slightly confused and I gave a little shrug, I had no idea what they were up to either.

Esme reached forward with a long match and lit the candle from the Callaghan parents and gently lit the one directly next to it, before blowing the flame out. Then Siobhan did the same with my parents' candle.

"As I said earlier in the ceremony, both these candles up here represent Chris and Fiona's birthparents. The two candles that have been added represent the Cullen family and the Irish Clan. From the original flame to the second candles, Christian, Fiona, if you both would take a match and please light it from your respective candles?"

Both Chris and I at the same time did as the priest asked, we stepped back once it was done so the guests could see as well.

"Now if you please, this larger candle is you both, it is you as husband and wife, it is you as one being. But it cannot be lit without help, and the candles you have taken the flame from is that help, it is your past and it is your future and though the physical flame may go out from time to time, the very being of that candle will never be extinguished. Please light your candle."

And with that order, Chris and I put the matches together against the candles wick and watched as the wick caught, creating one flame. Everyone clapped and cheered for a moment before quieting down so that the priest could continue.

"Without further ado, in front of your family and friends Christian and Fiona you have exchanged your vows and your rings. It is my great pleasure to pronounce you husband and wife, Christian if you'd like you may kiss your bride."

Chris seemed slightly nervous, we had kissed many times, but not in front of such a group, but he took a deep breath, mouthed I love you and kissed me gently, hugging me close as applause erupted around us. It felt like we were the only two people there, as he held me tight, never letting go.

When we finally broke apart we clasped hands instinctively, not even needing to look for the other's hand.

All the guests were on their feet clapping loudly, Emmett whistled and some of the wolf pack joined him. The bagpiper and band struck up in song, giving us the clue to move.

The photographer, who had been hovering the entire ceremony snapping pictures, did not disappoint capturing what I hoped was a beautiful picture of the two of us hand in hand looking out at our guests.

Chris held out his arm and I took it as we headed down the aisle, back towards the house, with our wedding party following.

I quickly glanced behind me at my sister and Seth, both seemed timid about the arrangements, but Seth bowed gentlemanly at Maggie and she giggled before taking his arm and following us.

When we reached the end of the aisle there was a broom laying across, I glanced over at Chris and he shrugged grinning.

"It's a Scottish tradition, my parents did it apparently, Esme and the girls found a picture of them jumping it."

"So we have to jump over it?"

"Unless you want me to carry you over it?"

I grinned at him and pecked his cheek with a kiss

"That's for the threshold silly."

"Together it is then, Aron?" He asked in Gaelic,

"Aron,"

"On three, one, two, three." On the three, still holding my hand tight we jumped in unison over the broom as the applause grew louder, "aron deo"

"Always A Gra."

Chris

Once the entire wedding party was back in the house, the outside was transformed into the wedding reception. I glanced outside to see that the rental company who had set most everything up was scurrying around to set up the dance floor, the tables, even the DJ's area. I was going to strangle Alice, so much for keeping things low key, the catering trucks had arrived and wait-staff were circulating among the guests offering appetizers and drinks.

I glanced over at Fi and nodded outside, she giggled and shrugged, Alice came skipping over to us and gave us both a hug and kiss before skipping off again, apparently avoiding my wrath. The photographer made sure to capture some shots of us in both the house and just outside of it before Alice ushered us back inside forcefully.

I took Fi's hand and kissed it as my brothers and friends hugged and patted my shoulders.

"How does it feel Chrissy?" Rosalie asked me hugging me tight

"I don't think its truly hit yet Rose," I replied "but what I do feel is amazing." She giggled and kissed me as Bella took her turn to hug me, while Rose hugged Fi.

"You two are so adorable." Bella added and I ducked my head.

Alice skipped back into the house and smiled wide

"They're ready!" she exclaimed "everyone line up with your partner, Fi Chris you guys are last, Renessme I want you to go out right before Uncle Chris and Auntie Fi ok?" Nessie nodded and hugged me around my waist, Fi looked at me quickly, hearing her new title in Nessie's eyes made her smile, a little embarrassed. Nessie turned to Fi and hugged her tight, standing on her tip toes to kiss Fi's cheek.

"Now if everyone would please stand as I introduce your wedding party for the evening." I could hear the sound of our guests standing as the DJ's voice echoed through our clearing. I rolled my eyes as I recognized the voice instantly, it was Quil Ateara, a member of the pack and one of Jacob's closest friends, he's a cool guy and we'd become pretty good friends since Jacob and Seth basically gave me tentative membership into the pack, but I was curious as to how they convinced him to DJ. When I looked at Alice for an explanation she smiled mischievously. Guess that answered that question, Alice was involved, 100%. "Parents of the bride, Siobhan and Liam," I could picture Siobhan and Liam making their way across the dance floor to the table for the parents right along side it, I could hear the applause and whistles. "Parents of the groom Carlisle and Esme Cullen!"

More applause as my parents joined Fi's at the table. Up in front I saw Tia squeeze Benjamin's arm before looking back at Fi and I to smile.

"Break a leg!" Emmett whispered to them causing all of us to laugh

"Now, may I introduce friends of the Bride and Groom Bridesmaid Tia escorted by Groomsman Benjamin." Giving us a final wave, Tia and Benjamin, arm in arm gave a small dance as they headed out of the house to the dance floor. "Next may we have the sister-in law, and brother to the groom Bridesmaid Bella Cullen escorted by Groomsman Edward Cullen." Like Tia and Benjamin, Bella and Edward gracefully danced their way out of the house. "Next we have sister and brother to the groom, Bridesmaid Rosalie Hale-Cullen escorted by Groomsman Emmett Cullen." Emmett gave me the goofiest grin he could muster as he and Rosalie danced out behind Edward and Bella, actually they literally tangoed out, Emmett leading and Rose just shaking her head at her husband. "Coming in next, sister and brother to the groom Bridesmaid Alice Cullen and Jasper Cullen." Alice reached over and tapped my nose before following the others out of the house with Jasper. "Now, sister of the bride Maid of honor Maggie escorted by best friend of the groom the Best Man, Seth Clearwater."

Seth held out his arm to Maggie and she smiled gently at him

"Ready partner?" he asked her and she nodded as they left the house as well. The applause hadn't stopped neither had the whistling as Fi squeezed my hand, Nessie looked up at us and grinned widely at us.

"Love you Uncle Chris," she said hugging me again

"Love you too Nessie girl."

"Love you Auntie Fi," she added hugging Fi tight

"Love you too Nessie."

"Now, official Ring bearer and flower girl, may I present niece of the groom Miss Nessie Cullen!"

Nessie skipped out of the house and towards her parents.

"I love you Mrs. Cullen." I said softly, kissing her gently

"I love you too Mr. Cullen."

"Now, it gives me great pleasure introduce to you all for the first time, the guests of honor for this evening, Mr. and Mrs. Cullen!" Quil exclaimed

The applause erupted in the clearing as Fi and I walked calmly out onto the dance floor. Tables lined the floor as our closest friends and family. I glanced up at the DJ table that had been set up and chuckled when I spotted Quil sporting headphones around his neck, a baseball cap on backwards, and clown like sunglasses, in addition to the suit he had been wearing at the ceremony. He grinned at me and gave me a thumbs up as the applause quieted down a bit.

"The wedding party is present and accounted for so let's get this pa-rt-y started!" Quil shouted into the microphone, enunciated each syllable "please join me in another round of applause as our newlyweds have their first dance as a married couple!"

The song Fi and I had decided on, I knew I loved you, by Savage Garden began to play and we began to dance in our own way to the beat. Fi's a much better dancer than I am, but I think I did okay, I didn't step on her toes and we were easily in sync with one another. We also didn't dance as awkward as I feared we would, we had been practicing this long enough and were completely at ease. I held her close and we focused on the music and each other, there was no one watching us, at least we pretended that was the case and trust me it helped with our nerves.

When the song finally ended and everyone began to clap again, I took Fi's hand and gently kissed it as we faced our family and friends and gave them all a shy wave.

After our dance, Liam stepped onto the dance floor, he looked as uncomfortable as I felt as he held out his hand to Fi for the traditional father/daughter dance. I stepped back to my parents as they danced a song Fi had found. I didn't recognize it and I'm pretty sure Fi had mastered Google thanks to all this wedding prep. As Liam and Fi danced, I felt an arm around my shoulders and looked up at Esme's proud smile, she kissed the top of my head and held me tight.

When the song ended and they walked off the dance floor, I turned to Esme and held out my hand to her. She took it gently and I guided my mother out to the floor. I had talked to Rosalie about the dance mother/son dance. I wanted the song to be important and for it's lyrics to match everything that Esme has done for me and something that could be extended to Carlisle so he would know that the song wasn't just for Esme, it was for him as well. Instead of searching around and testing different songs that she thought I might approve of Rose simply walked over to the computer and played one song. Like with the Savage Garden song, the lyrics, the beat, everything about the song was perfect.

So as Celine Dion's Because You Loved Me began playing, Esme's eyes filled with love, so much that I knew if our bodies were able to, she would be crying from happiness. The song while connecting to so much between my parents and I, has one line right in the chorus that stood out to me, that hit me hard and was easily my relationship with Carlisle and Esme, 'you gave me faith because you believed, I'm everything I am, because you loved me.' That line stood out, but it was a line that followed it that sealed it for me 'I lost my faith you gave it back to me'. When I heard that one line I was instantly brought back to my first Christmas with the Cullen family, when Esme and Carlisle took a huge risk to bring me out, while I was still a newborn and potentially dangerous, and brought me to Christmas Eve Mass.

After the Mass, I was extremely quiet as we drove home, mainly because of the guilt I felt. I had felt like I had abandoned my parents, left them to suffer through the war under the assumption that I was dead, I had broken a promise to my father and hadn't been there for my mother. I had been foolish to not make it to a shelter in time and had let myself be caught during the blitz and nearly crushed to death. I had accepted an immortal life without a second thought to my parents. Christmas Eve Mass should have brought content, calm, and a renewed sense of good in my new life, instead the songs, the familiarity of church and the mass had brought gut wrenching guilt that I couldn't shake.

It had been Esme and Carlisle's soothing words, reassurance, and love that lessened the pain I was feeling, it didn't completely erase it, I don't think anything could because the guilt still plays in the back of my mind. But they helped ease that pain and the song, especially that one line reminded me of that snowy Christmas Eve and all that my parents, both sets of parents truly meant to me.

As Esme and I danced and I glanced back at Carlisle, I think both of them understood why I had chosen the song and both were remembering the same thing I was, knowing how special and perfect the lyrics to the song truly were.

As our song faded into the end, I leaned up and kissed Esme on the cheek and she hugged me tight, I guided Esme back to Carlisle and without saying a word, hugged my father, he was stunned for a moment, but quickly hugged me back, Esme joining in, the three of us holding onto each other tight for just a quick moment.

"Love you guys," I whispered, before returning to Fi's side as Quil started up again,

"That was inspiring Chris, really it was," he called, pretended to dab at his sunglasses and I rolled my eyes. Jacob and Nessie seemed to be following in suit, because they both gave Quil a look, what made it more comical was Nessie was doing it from Jacob's arms and had her little arms crossed expectantly. "Yikes, got it, moving on. Now before we open the dance floor up to everyone, Chris and Fi have one more little surprise for everyone." Quil lifted his sunglasses and winked and on cue, Nessie scrambled down from Jacob's arms and bolted back into the house. The rest of the guests (including my family) all looked confused as I took Fi's hand and we walked out to the dance floor. We stood back to back and I felt her take a deep breath.

"Ready?" I asked softly

"Ready," she replied,

"Now, Chris explained to me this whole thing, it's called a Caili, and it's a tradition from both Scotland and Ireland."

From in the house a violin started to play, it grew louder as Nessie walked outside towards the DJ stage, Quil had set up a microphone stand right at Nessie's height so her music echoed through the clearing. Fi stepped away from me and began dancing a slow Irish step dance in tune to Nessie's violin. I could hear the murmurs and quiet claps as everyone realized part of our surprise. Nessie had been practicing this for weeks and had quickly mastered the notes. As Fi's dance slowed to a stop, another sound filled the area, it was Edward on his electric keyboard, with a beat similar to Nessie's but slightly different he had chosen a key sound that matched the violin almost perfectly. My brother is not fond of the electric keyboard that Emmett got him a few years back, but he was willing to use it when Fi and I explained to him what we needed. It needed to be a dueling violin scenario and since Fi would be dancing and was the only one besides Nessie who could play that particular instrument, we had to improvise, which ended up being perfect because we needed the two sounds to be similar, but very different and they were. As Edward's turn got going I began my own Scottish style dance, I was never good at them, but had been practicing so I felt I could handle it.

The two tunes began to go faster and faster and began to blend together perfectly as Fi and I danced separate at first, before finally coming together and dancing the same dance as one couple. The dueling violins…dueling fiddles faded out as we held each other tight…together at last.

x-x-x-x

Hi me again, one last thing, I did name the two songs that make an appearance in this chapter, Savage Garden's I knew I loved you and Celine Dion's Because you Loved me, however the song for Chris and Fi's Caili dance is a little tricky to find, if you go on YouTube and type in Dueling Fiddles by Celtic Women the live performance from Hyde Park is the exact song I always hear in my mind when I reread this scene. I first heard the song when my family went and saw Celtic Women years ago and I could picture the dance I described and that quickly became Chris and Fi's Caili Dance. Check it out if you have a chance it's worth it because the song is great and has an amazing beat. I will try to have another chapter posted soon, but it may be a little bit because this is the last chapter I had prewritten for this particular part of the post-Twilight Series, so bear with me everyone! Take care and thanks as always for being such great readers and friends!